I used to be a victim of spending hours of my day, scrolling mindlessly on TikTok. I spent so much time watching “Get Ready with Me” videos, hauls and storytimes that I did not want to complete any simple task without constant stimulation. I had TikTok playing in the background while I folded my laundry, cleaned my room, ate my breakfast and waited for the elevator. Every task on my to-do list took way longer than it should have because I was more focused on the tiny voice playing out of my phone than I was on the task at hand.
There came I point where I realized I was addicted to being constantly stimulated and decided I needed a habit change. I am not a big New Year’s resolution girl, but in January 2024, I put a time limit on TikTok and started something new: podcasts!
I randomly stumbled across Emma Chamberlain’s podcast, “Anything Goes”, one snowy, January day at the gym, and listened to it for the duration of my time there. My workout went by so much faster than when I would listen to music or watch a TV show, and this was the start of a healthier habit! I started to listen to podcasts more and more, exploring all of the artists and episodes that Spotify has to offer.
Now, when I need to get my housekeeping chores done, walk or run on the treadmill, go to the gym to lift, or am at the dining hall, I let my podcast play instead of keeping my head down to scroll on TikTok. Though I know that this is still constant stimulation in a sense, I find it significantly easier to be productive when I listen to a recording and have my hands and eyes free, rather than having to watch the visual portion to follow along.
An observation I made since listening to podcasts is that my overall screen time has decreased. I find that once I start scrolling or poking around on my phone, time flies; it is so difficult to turn off my phone and continue with my day. Though podcasts are engaging and I enjoy them, I find it so much easier to press that pause button when my task is complete, or it is time to move on to something else. I am happy to pick up where I left off, and do not have to worry about losing my place!
Overall, I have found podcasts to be an engaging way to increase productivity, decrease screen time, and stay alert when wandering the city!